How life has changed in New Forest

New Forest's population increased by about 7,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 180,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of New Forest increased by 4.2%, from just over 169,000 to 176,000.

The addition of just over 7,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, New Forest was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older New Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of New Forest increased by three years, from 44 to 47 years.

This area had the second-highest average age in the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 6,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 5,000.

About 15.0% of people in New Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in New Forest

New Forest saw the South East's joint third-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability, alongside Fareham. The largest fall was seen in Gosport

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (88.2%) in New Forest reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 89.6% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.9% to 3.7%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in New Forest

In 2011, 97.6% of New Forest residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.9% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 0.9% of people in New Forest said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.4% in 2001. About 0.9% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.5% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in New Forest decreased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in New Forest

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in New Forest, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.9 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 27.9% of respondents in New Forest said they had no religion, up from 15.0% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 70.7% of respondents in New Forest said they were Christian, down from 84.1% in 2001. About 0.6% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from 0.3% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in New Forest increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and New Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in New Forest that rented privately increased from 7.2% to 12.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11.0%) households lived in social housing, compared with 10.1% in 2001. The percentage of New Forest households that owned their home decreased from 80.3% to 75.0%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in New Forest increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in New Forest, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in New Forest working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.5% to 11.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in New Forest decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in New Forest, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of New Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.6% to 4.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.4% in 2001. The percentage of New Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.0% to 14.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in New Forest decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in New Forest, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in New Forest that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.1% to 11.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.6%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 58.5% in 2001. The percentage of single people in New Forest increased from 21.5% to 24.5%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households in New Forest without children increased from 65.1% to 66.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in four (24.7%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in New Forest with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.8% to 9.1%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 61.7%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in New Forest, which comprised one person, increased from 27.7% to 28.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 12 (8.1%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in New Forest which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39.1% to 35.7%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.0%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of New Forest residents that were unemployed increased from 1.9% to 2.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 52.2%, while the percentage of New Forest residents that were self-employed increased from 10.4% to 12.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of New Forest residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in New Forest remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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